Here Are 10 Awesomely Nerdy Things to Do This May in Metro Phoenix

For some, May in Phoenix means one thing: Phoenix Comicon. And even though the 2017 edition of the con is a big, big (big) deal, there are many other events with geek appeal happening throughout the Valley before the summer hits.

From the instantly recognizable music of John Williams to author events to an evening of birds and beer, here are 10 geeky events locked in for this month.

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Visit Greenhouse West on the Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science tour at Desert Botanical Garden till May 11.

Haute Photography

Hazel Hare Center For Plant Science Tours From Tuesday, May 2, till Thursday, May 11, the Desert Botanical Garden is offering behind-the-scenes tours of the Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science. Held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, the up-to-15-person tour highlights sustainable horticultural practices with visits to the Marley Horticulture Learning Lab, Greenhouse West, and the Cohn Ironwood Courtyard. The tour is free with garden admission ($24.95 for adults) and after registration. Call 480-941-1225.

Cory Doctorow will be interviewed by ASU's futurist-in-residence Brian David Johnson.

Paula Mariel Salischiker

Cory Doctorow Obviously the author of the graphic novel In Real Life and the regular novel Rapture of the Nerds deserves a spot on this list. ASU futurist-in-residence Brian David Johnson will interview science fiction author and journalist Cory Doctorow at the Doubletree Hilton in Scottsdale at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 12. Attending the discussion is free, but a book must be purchased from The Poisoned Pen to get it signed. Call 480-947-2974 or visit the event page for more information.

Hear all the "dun dun" you want when the Phoenix Symphony performs the music of John Williams from May 12 to May 14.

Courtesy of Universal

Music of John Williams Does John Williams even need an introduction? The man behind the musical scores of Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Harry Potter, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, and of course, Jaws, will be honored by the Phoenix Symphony under conductor Robert Franz. There will be four performances from Friday, May 12, to Sunday, May 14, at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets range from $45 to $85 at the Phoenix Symphony website or 602-495-1999.

The burrow owl is one of Phoenix’s most common birds, which you'll learn at May's Birds n’ Beer.

Dan Dietrich

Birds n’ Beer The signature monthly happy hour event put on by the Rio Salado Audubon Center is called Birds n' Beer, and the topic for May’s third Thursday is “Top 10 Urban Birding Tips.” Attendees will learn how to spot and identify some of Phoenix’s most common birds, including the humming and hooting varieties. Birding enthusiast and activist Kathe Anderson hosts the free event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. Visit the event page or call 602-468-6470 for more details.

The Mad Monster Party Arizona 2017 has Pinhead, and events like the Miss Mad Monster Pageant, from May 19 to 21.

Loren Cutler

Mad Monster Party Arizona 2017 May is apparently convention season in the Phoenix area, because Arizona’s horror gathering – a.k.a. the Mad Monster Party Arizona 2017 – is also coming to town. Guests range from Butch Patrick of The Munsters to Pinhead himself, Doug Bradley, while events include panels, screenings, the Miss Mad Monster Pageant, and a Saturday night pool party. Mad Monster runs from Friday, May 19, to Sunday, May 21, at the We-ko-pa Resort & Conference Center. Tickets go from $25 to $199 at the Mad Monster Party website.

Read on for more of the great nerdy offerings this May — including Phoenix Comicon, duh.

Michael Ian BlackThe State, Stella, Wet Hot American Summer — that's where you know Michael Ian Black from. And this goofball is stopping at Crescent Ballroom during his Shut Up & Comedy tour on Friday, May 19. Doors are at 7, show’s at 8 p.m., and tickets for this 21-and-over event range from $24 to $28. Call 602-716-2222 or see the Crescent Ballroom website for more information.

FilmBar is screening Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me on Sunday, May 21. And yes, there'll be pie and coffee.

Warner Bros.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me People still can’t get enough of Twin Peaks, despite the fact that David Lynch's celebrated TV show about Laura Palmer and the other Northwestern weirdos is decades old. If you’ve never peeped the show’s prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, FilmBar is offering you the chance to get the backstory (and see Chris Isaak with a pompadour) at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. Tickets are $12, and include damn fine coffee and gorgeous cherry pie. See the FilmBar website for more details.

The Poisoned Pen will host over 20 sci-fi authors before Phoenix Comicon during Elevengeddon.

Courtesy of The Poisoned Pen

Elevengeddon If you’re looking for a straight-up sci-fi extravaganza, Elevengeddon happens to be billed as just that. It’s a 20-plus author signing party presented by The Poisoned Pen and held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort. Authors include Victoria Schwab, Wesley Chu, Elizabeth Bear, Aprilynne Pike, Beth Cato, Weston Ochsse, and many more – and all hosted by fantasy writer Sam Sykes. Admission is free (a great way to get some books signed without paying to get into Phoenix Comicon). Call 480-947-2974 or visit the event page for more information.

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The Book of Mormon You don’t have to be a South Park fan to enjoy The Book of Mormon. This super-silly play and musical is coming to Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium – or ASU Gammage – with varying times from Thursday, May 18, through Sunday, May 28. Get ready to hear the Good Word from boys in neckties for two and a half hours. Tickets range from $50 to $258 at the ASU Gammage box office or 480-965-3434. See the show’s event page for more information.

Phoenix Comicon It’s almost here, guys. Memorial Day Weekend brings the 2017 Phoenix Comicon to the Phoenix Convention Center and other venues in downtown Phoenix. From Thursday, May 25, to Sunday, May 28, geeks can experience a messload of panels, vendors, guests, parties, exhibitors, and much more, including the Phoenix Comicon Masquerade Costume Contest, the Phoenix Comicon Film Festival, Talk Nerdy to Me: A Byte of Burlesque, and some escape rooms. Guests include Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, and the voice of the Niles Crane-esque K-2SO in Rogue One), Danny Trejo, Curtis Armstrong (a.k.a. Booger), Anthony Michael Hall, Joan Cusack, Ming-Na Wen, and University of Arizona professor Dante Lauretta. Tickets range from $20 to $299. Visit the Phoenix Comicon website for all the deets.

Lauren Cusimano is a journalist, content writer, editor, and proofreader based in Tempe. She enjoys riding bikes, going to dive bars, talking too much about The Simpsons, and falling asleep while reading.

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